Jennifer Clemens
Upgrade Detroit

If you don’t own a cowboy hat or some plaid and overalls, head to the nearest thrift store before Detroit’s 28th Annual Downtown Hoedown May 14-16 (Friday- Sunday). For three days metro Detroiters and Canadians will tap their boots to country tunes along the Detroit River at Hart Plaza.

Carnival treats, Budweiser beer tents, and Made in Detroit gear are among items for sale. Visitors can lounge in the Michigan sun and enjoying the early summer evenings. There’s no need for guilt about taking off from work early to catch the excitement, because admission is absolutely FREE.

In 1983, Detroit hosted its first Downtown Hoedown, which quickly became the largest country music event of its kind in the world. Let me repeat that: Detroit hosts the largest country music show – in the entire world. Over one million people have attended the Hoedown in past years, and over one million attendees are expected again this year. Past big-name performers include: Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Big & Rich, (Detroit’s own) Kid Rock, Toby Keith, and Leeann Rimes, to name a few.

Over 30 local and national acts are scheduled to perform. Ashley Allyson will kick off the Hoedown Friday afternoon at 2 p.m., Uncle Kracker will take to the stage Saturday evening, and the Zac Brown Band will close out the Hoedown Sunday night. To view the entire list of featured local and national artists and performance times, please visit 99.5 WYCD’s website.

When asked what the Hoedown brings to the city of Detroit, Tim Roberts, WYCD Operations Manager and Program Director, said, “Besides the greatest and largest free country music festival on Earth, the WYCD Downtown Hoedown shows how great and fun downtown Detroit can be. With great food and entertainment, it drives people to Greektown, the casinos, to the river, brings in our Canadian friends, and is a unifying force with the common bond of great music as the center post.”

Come to the Downtown Hoedown to relax in Hart Plaza, listen and dance to the best of country music, and witness the city of Detroit and its citizens alive and sparkling.

The Downtown Hoedown is hosted by 99.5 WYCD Detroit’s Best Country Music radio station and sponsors include Budweiser, Greektown Casino-Hotel, AT&T Yellow Pages, Napa Auto Parts, U.S. Bank and more.

No coolers, alcohol, pets, bikes or skateboards are allowed within Hart Plaza for the Hoedown and all bags are subject to search.

Parking garages and lots are located near Hart Plaza and throughout downtown. Arriving early may ensure a good parking space. Not all garages and lots are open 24 hours, so check with attendants or signs to prevent your vehicle from spending the night in a closed lot.

To learn more about the Hoedown or featured artists, please visit 99.5 WYCD’s website, americajr.com, or become a fan of the 2010 Detroit Downtown Hoedown Facebook page.

28th Annual Downtown Detroit Hoedown Quick Facts:

When: May 14 – 16 (Friday through Sunday)

Time:  Friday from 2 p.m. to 10:05 p.m.

Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10:20 p.m.

Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9:15 p.m.

Where: Hart Plaza

One Hart Plaza

Detroit, MI 48226

Cost:  FREE

Jennifer Clemens
Upgrade Detroit

Release that winter cabin fever on Detroit’s RiverWalk!

Whether you’re taking the kids to the Cullen Family Carousel for a view of the River Monster, meandering through the Butterfly Gardens & Labyrinth or biking along the Dequindre Cut Greenway, make sure to stop into either one of the RiverWalk Café’s two locations.

The café added a breath of summer air to its menu this year. Escape the heat to enjoy some classic items, such as smoothies and ice cream, or indulge in a hot dog (if you haven’t had enough Ballparks at Comerica Park to satisfy your craving this baseball season). For health-nuts, the café also offers tasty salads and wraps. So sit back, relax and enjoy some treats while admiring the
city’s dazzling Detroit River!

RiverWalk Café Hours

Rivard Plaza
Sunday-Thursday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Gabriel Richard Park
Limited hours, especially on weekends and special occasions.

http://www.detroitriverfront.org/

Episode 17 Recap:
On episode 17 we talked with David Flanagan founder of the Dad’s Loves 2 Read. After a few minutes of Mr. Matthews rambling on to cover up the technical issues we were having we got the ball rolling with Mr. David Fanangan. He spoke about the issues in the Detroit Public Schools and how his Dad’s Loves 2 Read program is helping to make a difference with the youth of Detroit.

To listen the show press the play button.

To learn more about the Dad’s Loves 2 Read visit http://urbanfitnessklub.org.

Click Here to read the entire press release (Upgrade Detroit Leaps into spring)

Hello Detroit! We have upgraded the site for 2010 by adding listings for new jobs in Detroit. Find a job or a new career by clicking the Detroit Jobs link on the site. There are great new opportunities waiting for you. Start the year off right, upgrade your life and keep checking Positive Detroit for new and improved content. Don’t forget, It’s Detroit upgraded! – Monica Link

Yes. We are on the come back. Well we really never left, just took a few months to reorganize. Our goal is to get up and running starting in Jan 2010. Yes its here already! (where are the flying cars we were promised???)

As we gear up feel free to check back with us. We are currently doing live testing of our site, just trying out different things. So you might run into a few bugs here and there. If you happen to come across a goof please let us know by contacting us here: Contact Us Page

Now as a teenager, the Pirate Ship was the ride where all the cool kids hung around while 97.9 was always blasting to keep the fair-goers hype in the lines. The teenagers had to get fly for the fair so that they could get noticed from kids other schools. Before I started to drive how my friends and I would coordinate whose parents were going to drop us off and pick us up and making sure we were standing on Woodward when it was pick up time. Getting yelled at in the car because we were always hard headed and never was outside when we said we were. I am cracking up while I am going back down memory lane.

I remember my husband (he was just a guy I was dating at the time) spending almost $50.00 on some game to win me some overstuffed animal. NEVER DID WIN.

The State Fair always had a hot lineup of great talent for their concerts. I have enjoyed the performances of the Isley Brothers, Ashanti, Drew Hill, 112, and one of my favorite groups of all time, NEW EDITION! Oh yes, my girls Steph, Tiff, Kyra, Roz and Nat rushed off work so we could get good seats and we were grooving to NE HEARTBREAK. That was just 5 years ago.

Now that I am a parent, for the past 4 years I have enjoyed taking my little one to the fair. Never did I once think that it would be no more for us to enjoy each year. I want my son to have his own memories of the the wonderful elephant ears, shoestring french fries, or the fresh lemonade stands. The experience of enjoying the last of the summer air with his friends hanging out by the PirateShip or the Tilt-A-Whirl.

HERE ARE REASONS YOU SHOULD HEAD TO THE STATE FAIR!

1. Grab and soak in some American History. The Michigan State Fair is 160 years old and the oldest in the United States.

2. While you are enjoying some of the great food the fair has to offer, you can watch a free Disney movie  at the Hudson Auditorium. They have several showtimes everyday while the Fair is open.

3. See one of the live concerts. Still some of the best entertainment is still available at the Michigan State Fair.

4. ELEPHANT EARS….Should I say more.

5. Check out the miracle of life exhibit, which features pregnant and newborn cows, goats and pigs.

6. Visit a volunteer at the fair and sign their petition to keep the fair running.

7.  Just for a good laugh – ride the Pirate Ship.

Opening reception:Saturday June 6th at 2 PM,
rsvp 313-898-3007 or mbadmuseum@yahoo.com.

This exhibition of traditional Shoowa textile offers a stunning display of over 300 uniquely designed textiles coving all known styles, Kasa Velvet Raffia, Resist Raffia, Resist dyed Raffia, Embroidered Raffia including open work Raffia and Appliqué Raffia. Acquired over a period of twenty years, many of these textiles are shown for the first time. The exhibit is on loan from MBAD/ABA African Bead Museum of Detroit, a part of the immense collection of Shoowa embroider design cloth from Olayami Dabls and S. Jill Miller.The sheer depth and scope of these beautiful designed cut pile textiles is altogether a different world of excellence from a people who did not have a word for art.

Spectacular colors and patterns will captivate everyone interested in textile history, African material culture, collectors of textiles, quilters and anyone who appreciates outstanding craftsmanship and originality this exhibit will inspire you. Come tap into the minds of Shoowa people of the kingdom of Kuba.Sponsors: AlkebulanNation of Unity study group, Artist Village, Bambuti, Metro Business Guide, Truth Book Store, Team 313 Community Garden, Bundles of Love, Akankemenen Publishing.The exhibition is open to the public during regular library hours. Photography is permitted. Guide tours are available, call for information and appointment 313 898 3007, the MBAD/ABA African Bead Museum, “Where Detroit’s African Town Begins” 6559 Grand River, Detroit MI 48208. Library information 313-833-4042.

Conrad J. Welsing, MA, APR
Media Relations Specialist
Detroit Public Library
5201 Woodward
Detroit, MI 48202
Direct: 313-833-4043
Cell: 734-516-5962
Marketing Front Desk: 313-833-4042
Library Main Number: 313-833-1000

African American Family Magazine presents ‘AN EVENING WITH MAYA ANGELOU’ AN AMERICAN LEGEND

Detroit, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ — Dr. Maya Angelou comes to Detroit to share her inspirational insight and absorbing stories on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at The Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit. This event will give those in the audience a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hear one of our greatest voices. Dr. Angelou has published a new book, Letter to my Daughter, that reveals her path to living well and living a life with meaning by sharing life lessons with the daughter she never had but sees all around her. Letter to my Daughter has just received the 2009 Literary Non Fiction Award by the NAACP – Outstanding Literary Work – Non Fiction.

Dr. Maya Angelou is a remarkable Renaissance woman who is hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary literature. As a poet, educator, historian, best-selling author, actress, playwright, civil-rights activist, producer and director, she continues to travel the world, spreading her legendary wisdom. Within the rhythm of her poetry and elegance of her prose lies Angelou’s unique power to help readers of every orientation span the lines of race – and Angelou captivates audiences through the vigor and sheer beauty of her words and lyrics.

African American Family Magazine’s Distinguished Speakers Series presents America’s most intellectual, inspirational and informative speakers, who engage broad-based audiences by addressing issues such as history, race, literature, economics and education. The series has hosted notables such as the late Coretta Scott King, Nobel Laureate and Pulitzer Prize recipient Toni Morrison, Sheila Johnson, the world’s first black female billionaire, Immaculee Ilibagiza, a Rwandan genocide survivor, John Bul Dau, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, entrepreneur Christopher Gardner and the Former President Bill Clinton.

“An Evening with Maya Angelou” is presented by Ford Motor Company and produced by African American Family Magazine. This event is also sponsored by St. John Health System, DTE Energy Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Wayne County Community College District, McDonalds and Metro Parent Magazine. Partial proceeds from this event will benefit The Yes Foundation, a local 501c3 nonprofit organization that works to promote literacy in Detroit.

For ticket information, call (248) 398-3400, (313) 576-5111 or visit www.detroitsymphony.com. For more information about this event, call (248) 398-3400, ext. 128.

Call or email for additional information or a hi-res photo of Maya Angelou.

Source: African American Family Magazine

CONTACT: Lisa Grace, +1-248-398-3400, ext. 128, lgrace@metroparent.com;
Alexis Bourkoulas, +1-248-398-3400 ext. 123, abourkoulas@metroparent.com

Web Site: http://www.detroitsymphony.com/

Mayoral candidates prove their worth for Detroit’s top job in online debate

DETROIT – Candidates running in the special election to replace former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick prove their worth in a cyber-debate on Wednesday February 18 at 9 P.M.. The debate is sponsored by Positive Detroit, a non-profit dedicated to promoting positive news, events and entertainment in and around the city.

The debate will take place live on its website www.PositiveDetroit.org. All of the candidates on the February ballot have been invited to give a two minute introduction about themselves and what they plan to do to make Detroit a better place. Marcus Burrell, COO of Ultra 1 Holding Group and financial advisor at Waddell & Reed Inc. – a publicly traded investment company, will serve as the moderator for the evening.

Why debate online? Hartford Matthews, publisher of Positive Detroit.org said it’s a convenient way for Detroiters to stay out of the cold and stay in on Detroit Politics.

“An online debate is the perfect way for Detroit to learn about each candidate, while sitting at home in their pajamas,” said Matthews. “It’s the perfect platform for all the candidates to make their voice heard and the perfect place for Detroit to listen”

Listeners can choose to listen via phone, from Positive Detroit’s website to the debate or listen and type questions live in the chat room on the site.

Listeners can log onto the site www.PositiveDetroit.org – It’s Detroit upgraded

For the latest updates sign up for Positive Detroit’s E News Letter

For more information please contact Hartford Matthews at Hartford@positivedetroit.org or Monica Link at monicalink@positivedetroit.org